Started more than nine years ago at The Olympian, The Video Guy column is a weekly look at films from a "regular guy's" perspective. I have no formal training as a critic, other than I've seen a lot of movies and have a lot of opinions, but I'll do my best to give you an idea of what's out there and whether it's worth your time.

Note: This is a seattlepi.com reader blog. It is not written or edited by the P-I. The authors are solely responsible for content. E-mail us at newmedia@seattlepi.com if you consider a post inappropriate..

Wrapping up a great year in kid’s films

It was a great year to be a kid, or someone young at heart, as 2010 saw a number of high quality family films released. Making kid’s flicks is easy money – you’ve got to take your tykes to see something – but many of the movies showed a skill and care generally reserved for more serious-minded fare.

Of course, the gold standard this year was Pixar’s touching and terrific TOY STORY 3 (G, 4 stars), arguably the best movie of 2010.

Filled with the humor and pathos we’ve come to expect from Woody, Buzz Lightyear and Co., the final film in the trilogy may have reduced adults to tears courtesy of its theme, but still left kids in stitches thanks to the hilarious antics of its beloved characters.

The movie is beautiful to look at and scripted with a deft touch. I felt like I was watching a real movie at times, not an animated feature. It makes me wonder what the folks at Pixar could do if given a shot at making a live-action feature.

Of course, it helps when you’ve got Tom Hanks and Tim Allen in your corner, and their dedication to the project shows in their voice work.

While “Toy Story” stood head and shoulders above the rest, there were several other family films that also are worth your time.

DESPICABLE ME (PG, 3 stars) has a unique premise in that its hero is actually the super-villian Gru (voiced by Steve Carell), a dastardly character whose icy heart starts to melt when he becomes the ward of three little girls.

With a distinct visual style and strong voice acting by Carell and rival Jason Segal, “Despicable Me” breaks through the Pixar stronghold and promises to be a franchise to watch in the future.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (PG, 3 stars) is the umpteenth retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic tale, with the hook this time in that it is using the motion-capture techniques similar to those in “The Polar Express” and “Beowulf.”

So everyone, including Jim Carrey’s Scrooge and Gary Oldman’s Cratchit, looks slighty creepy, with the dead-eye syndrome that plagues these movies. In this one, that affect works in its favor. This is a creepy adaptation that will certainly scare younger viewers – heck, it even creeped me out.

Speaking of slightly creepy, THE LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS: THE OWLS OF GA’HOOLE (PG, 2 1/2 stars) features a host of owls that have a strange, off-kilter look, but once you get past that, this is an entertaining tale directed by a surprising person – Zack Snyder, helmer of “300″ and “Dawn of the Dead.”

The story revolves around orphan owls who escape an evil orphanage and travel to the titular island to assist the noble owls in defeating the wicked rulers. Helen Mirren and Sam Neill show up to lend their voices, and while it can be ponderous at times, the aerial action is thrilling.

Note: This is a seattlepi.com reader blog. It is not written or edited by the P-I. The authors are solely responsible for content. E-mail us at newmedia@seattlepi.com if you consider a post inappropriate..